The Sea Floor Menace: The Box Jellyfish

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Transcript of The Sea Floor Menace: The Box Jellyfish

The Box JellyfishBy: J Raymond Bryars The Undersea Menace: Resources The Box Jellyfish uses its powerful tentacles to grab its prey and to face its enemies. In each of these tentaclesare thousands of little stinging capsules called nematocysts. These nematocysts are fired upon contactwith any stragglers who happen to touch its stingers. These nematocysts then puncture the skin. Another useful thing the jellyfish has are its eyes. These eyes help the jellyfish see basic light. Activity Pattern Box Jellyfish are active at night and hunt for small plankton, prawn, and small fish. They will avoid darkness when kept in captivity and because they can distinguish light. They do not usually go straight for their prey but instead wait for the prey to come to it. Adaptations The Box Jellyfish has eyes even though it has no brain. They are able to distinguish between light and dark. Another obvious adaption would be the stingers of the jellyfish which are used to capture its prey. These prey are stung and those who live the first wave are paralyzed and can't escape. The paralyzed or killed animal is slowly consumed by the jellyfish. Conclusion The Box Jellyfish holds the record for the most venomous strike in the world. These little creatures are dangerous but they're just doing what they must to survive. Does that really make them a menace? Habitat The Infamous box jellyfish lives in the near-shore waters of Australia and Southern Asia. Many of them can be found in Australia's northern waters. They will migrate southward when monsoon rains kick in. Many have been found along the shores a bit north off the Tropic of Capricorn. The youngest and smallest medusae were closer to mainland. They like to live in dark murky waters. Did You Know: -95% of the Box Jellyfish is 95% water -The male jellyfish releases its sperm into the water which then fertilize the female egg